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401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions are often among the most valuable assets a person has, so these assets naturally play a key role when the time comes to divide property in a divorce. If your divorce settlement or court order involves splitting the money in a retirement account, you will need to obtain a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO).

It’s no secret that some divorces get expensive. A study published in 2020 found that the average legal costs for a Texas divorce were between $11,000 and $13,000. The average may be even higher today. 

The stress that comes with divorce can lead people to make poor financial decisions. Some questionable financial decisions are made with the intent to keep money out of a soon-to-be ex’s hands. Other money mistakes are made because of emotion, distraction, or various other factors that affect one’s thought process when their marriage is ending.

A thoughtful parenting plan is the heart of a successful relationship between co-parents and the children they share. Creating a plan can be difficult, both emotionally and practically, but a good parenting plan facilitates communication between parents and minimizes the chances of conflicts that could affect the children.

At our Ft. Worth law firm, we often talk with grandparents who would do anything for their grandkids and who are heartbroken over family situations that prompt them to seek custody. If you’re thinking of taking action to gain custody of your grandchildren, here are three things to consider.

The law isn’t always clear-cut. There are many situations where legal issues overlap, and different perspectives are useful to achieve the best possible outcome. 

A divorce can affect every aspect of your life. Depending on your situation, it can feel sad or shameful, or be a source of relief and celebration. It can even feel like all of those things in combination. So, how do you share the news? Who should you talk about your divorce with, and what should you say?

No matter what the schedule, most parenting plans involve transitions between one household and the other. These parental visitation changeovers can be complicated and emotional times for kids, but there are things parents can do to make them easier.

When one parent makes more money than the other, the one who makes less often believes they are at a disadvantage when it comes to child custody.

In most Texas divorces, both spouses agree to the break-up as well as how property should be divided, what the child custody arrangements should be, and how all other issues should be resolved. This is known as an uncontested divorce. But not every marriage can be dissolved quite that easily.

Divorce often leaves one spouse in a stronger financial position than the other. When this happens, the spouse who ends up with fewer financial resources may be entitled to receive alimony (referred to as “spousal maintenance” in Texas).

Paternity is a term with a specific legal meaning. It refers to the legal relationship between a father and child. There may be no question about who a child's biological father is, but the father won't be considered the legal father until paternity has been formally established.

Child custody disputes can be some of the most bitter cases in all of family law. Stress can make people do things they wouldn’t normally do. As a parent, keep in mind that your behavior, both in and out of court, can greatly affect the outcome of your case, not to mention your relationship with your kids. 

Hearing the phrase “prenuptial agreement” can provoke an emotional response, especially if you’re the one being asked to sign one. These agreements have negative connotations attached to them, like the idea that people only sign them when they don’t trust each other. 

Texas is one of only eight states, as of 2022, that have legislation allowing the formation of common law marriages. Sometimes called “marriage without formalities” or “informal marriage,” common law marriages are therefore legal in our state. 

The divorce process is rarely easy, even when both spouses agree that it’s time for the marriage to end. It can get even more challenging when one spouse doesn’t want the marriage to end or refuses to put any effort toward reaching a divorce settlement. 

Not everyone feels satisfied with the outcome of their divorce. Sometimes, in the course of a divorce, things happen that seem unfair or downright wrong. It can seem like you weren’t heard or that key factors were ignored by attorneys and the court.

Divorce can seem like a never-ending list of things to update and remember. You’re probably already thinking about bank accounts, utility bills, streaming service passwords and school pick-up permissions.

Sometimes, parents’ religious practices are a point of conflict for a family. When one parent holds certain beliefs that the other parent does not hold, who makes the decisions about how to raise the child? What happens when one parent disagrees with the religious teachings the other parent introduces—or fails to introduce?

In some states, mediation is required before a divorcing couple can go to court. But mediation is not required in Texas. There is no mandatory mediation under the law, but mediation can be an option in some cases. Here’s why you might want to consider it.

In a divorce, spouses work to divide their assets and debts. You only get one chance to do it, so it’s important to consider the future. When you’re dividing assets, don’t just think of the here and now. Think of what your life may look like 10, 20 or even 30 years in the future. The decisions you make today will impact that time. 

There’s an old adage that it takes a village to raise a child. It’s true. As they grow, children are shaped by the community they grow up in and by the relationships they form with others—family members, trusted adults, and friends.

If you own a business and are facing the prospect of divorce, all kinds of thoughts are probably swirling around in your head. You’re trying to manage the stress and emotions that anyone goes through at the end of their marriage, plus you have additional worries about how to handle your company. 

Child custody is a challenging issue for most parents, but determining custody when the child has special needs is even more complex than usual. Raising a special needs child means more decisions must be made. A great deal of care and thought must be applied when considering custody arrangements, both by the parents and their attorneys.

If you’re a parent going through a divorce or custody dispute, you’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed already. There is a lot of legal terminology being thrown your way, including the word “conservatorship.” If you’ve seen that word and are confused by it, don’t worry, this article should help you make sense of it.

Whether your divorce included alimony (or spousal support, as it’s known under Texas law) because it was negotiated between you and your ex or because a judge decided it at a contested hearing, you may no longer think the payments are appropriate. 

For many years, the average age of a person getting married for the first time has been on the rise. Divorce rates are still relatively high, with divorce no longer carries the stigma it did long ago. And the marriage rate recently hit an all-time low. 

The holiday season is stressful for many families. And the balancing act of co-parenting is particularly hard this time of year. On top of the usual struggles, many parents are dealing with a disagreement over vaccinating their children.

Most family courts across the country operate with the assumption that both parents should play a role in their children’s lives after a divorce. That is not the case when it comes to family pets. If you don’t get custody of the cat, dog or other pet in the divorce, there is a very real chance that your relationship with them will end.

Divorce is not generally a sign of a successful relationship. The end of a marriage is often accompanied by anger, disgust, betrayal, and sadness. The strong emotions that come with divorce can make the thought of co-parenting almost intolerable. Overcoming those feelings is a necessity for parents who want to minimize the harm their children suffer due to divorce.